Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

6. Wisdom is declared to be the greatest guide in our work. Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

TEXT 9:13-18

13

Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.

14

There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and constructed large siege works against it.

15

But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16

So I said, Wisdom is better than strength. But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

17

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 9:13-18

365.

Solomon said he was impressed with what (Ecclesiastes 9:13)?

366.

What kind of wisdom was it?

367.

Give three reasons why the small city should not have been delivered.

368.

What was the poor, wise man's reward for delivering the city?

369.

Does Solomon prove by this parable that wisdom is better than strength? Discuss.

370.

How should wisdom be communicated?

371.

What should be heeded in time of trouble?

372.

Identify the two lessons taught in verse eighteen.

PARAPHRASE 9:13-18

The following parable on wisdom, which I have observed under the sun, made a genuine impression on my mind. There was a small city with only a few men in it and a powerful king surrounded it with his army. The king also built overpowering bulwarks which towered above the city. The king cut off the small city from all exchange of goods and communication. However, there was a potential deliverer within the city. He was poor and insignificant but he was very wise. He was wise enough to deliver the city by his wisdom even in the face of such overwhelming obstacles. Yet no one thought of that poor man. So I said, Wisdom is far better than the strength of an army. The wisdom of the poor insignificant man is despised and his words, which delivered the city, were soon forgotten. The quiet words of wise men, even when the wise men are poor, should be heeded rather than listening to the shouting of a great king who labors in the midst of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons but one sinner who acts foolishly can destroy much good.

COMMENT 9:13-18

The central subject of this section is wisdom. A parable is clearly evident in Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 while the interpretation of it is found in verse sixteen. Two final observations on the value of wisdom are given in Ecclesiastes 9:17-18.

How can one safeguard himself from the treachery of snares and traps? Is there any way one can find encouragement in the midst of calamity? The answer is found in securing wisdom and practicing it. One should not despise such a valuable possession as wisdom though it be in possession of a servantthis would not diminish its worth. One should not only enjoy life, and work with great industry, he should also employ wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:13 One should not attempt to equate this wisdom with the wisdom revealed in the New Testament which is complete in Christ and wonderfully redemptive in nature. The wisdom the Preacher discusses is qualified at the outset as earthy under the sun wisdom. Such an example of wisdom as set forth here impressed Solomon and was great to him. This is true because of what it did.

Varied interpretations of the parable are offered. Among the notable views are: (1) Israel is represented as the possessor of true wisdom, and although she was small and despised, she was accepted by God and delivered by his hand. (2) The true church is besieged from generation to generation. However, she has Jesus Christ, once Himself poor, to deliver her. (3) The event in Bible history which most nearly parallels the story is recorded in 2 Samuel 20:15-22 and Judges 9:53. (4) Imaginative interpretations include cities such as Dora, besieged by Antiochas the Great and Athens which was delivered by Themistocles from the hand of Xerxes. (5) Luther and Mercerus both held that no actual historical occurrence is intended.

The most natural interpretation would be that which elevates wisdom. The emphasis on the great king and the poor wise man heightens the contrast and increases the odds. Thus, the fact that the city is delivered from such overwhelming strength elevates wisdom and makes it the true hero.

Ecclesiastes 9:14 A small city indicates a lack of military resources. A few men in the city implies a minimum number of men to defend the city rather than the number of non-fighting personnel. The plight of the city is magnified by the fact that a great king surrounded it with his soldiers. In addition, he built large seigeworks against it. One need not search for such an actual event in history as the emphasis here is to demonstrate that wisdom can deliver from insurmountable odds.

The siegeworks are also called palisades (Septuagint), embarkments or mounds. Sometimes wooden towers were used whereby the enemy could catapult heavy rocks against the wall or into the city. From such strongholds towering over the city, the enemy could spy out the weak areas of the beleagured city so as to assail it. (Cf. Deuteronomy 20:20; 2 Samuel 20:15; 2 Kings 19:32; Jeremiah 3:4; Micah 4:14)

The comparison is reminiscent of the powers of darkness which are set against the church. However, just as wisdom had the capabilities of delivering the city, even against such overpowering odds, so Christ has given the victory to the church. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 1 John 5:4)

Ecclesiastes 9:15-16 Wisdom is better. Wisdom is better than strength (Ecclesiastes 9:16). Wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:18).

On the one hand wisdom stands in bold relief against the great king and military might of the enemy. Within the city it emerges as the hero against the fact that it was insignificantly contained in a small city and a poor man. Wisdom had everything going against it and nothing in its favor. Wisdom was sufficient to deliver the city, however, when everything was going against it. The tragedy came after the victory. The one who through his wisdom delivered the city was forgotten. It is sometimes argued that since the verb is pluperfect it should be rendered no man had remembered that poor man and thus would change the emphasis of the text. The meaning then would be that none remembered him until the need for deliverance was keenly felt and then they turned to him. This interpretation would clarify the verse but would complicate the meaning of verse sixteen where the Preacher declares, But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

The Anchor Bible[14]takes an altogether different approach: Now there was in it a than who was poor but wise, and he might have saved the city by his wisdom. But no man thought of that poor man. So I said, -Wisdom is better than might!,-' yet the wisdom of the poor man was despised, and his words went unheeded. On the idea of might have saved, the editors comment: Literally -he saved.-' The former sense is implied by the comment in verse sixteen. The point is that no one remembered the wise man because he was little regarded, rather than that men Were not grateful for his advice which saved the city.[15]

[14] R. B. Y. Scott. The Anchor Bible: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (New York: Double-day and Company, Inc., 1965), p. 247.

[15] R. B. Y. Scott, ibid.

Still a different view is explained by Hitzig: In this particular case they had, it is true, not despised his wisdom, and they had listened to his words. But it was an exceptional case, necessity drove them thereto, and afterwards they forgot him.[16]

[16] Hengstenberg. op. cit., p. 220.

The latter view most clearly states the intent of the passage. The rulers of the small city were forced to listen to the wisdom of the poor man and they heeded it. Because he was poor and the crises facing their city was over, they soon forgot the poor man. In a similar way, Joseph was treated by the Chief Butler (Genesis 40:23); and Jesus was temporarily forgotten after His death upon the cross where the wisdom of God was revealed (1 Corinthians 1:24).

The lesson is obvious. Solomon observed the incidentwhether real or imaginaryand then reflected on the observation with the statement that wisdom is better than strength. If the man had not actually delivered the city, Solomon would not have been impressed with the parable.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 The contrast between wisdom and strength continues. Jesus demonstrates perfectly the principle set forth in this verse. It was said of Him that He did not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street (Isaiah 42:2). On the other hand, the pompously dressed Herod assumed the role of the shouting ruler among fools at Caesarea when Luke wrote of him: And on an appointed day Herod, having put on the royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering the address to them. And the people kept crying out, -The voice of a god and not of a man!-' And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten with worms and died (Acts 12:21-23).

The quiet tranquility could belong to the wise man himself. If so, such an attitude toward life would be an indication of his wisdom. Or it could refer to those who are so disposed as to quietly listen as they recognize the strength and power of his words.

Ecclesiastes 9:18 The first half of this verse has been sufficiently explained. The above example has shown that wisdom accomplishes more than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 7:19). The new thought introduced here is in antithesis to the former truth. Just as wisdom is better than weapons of war so one foolish act can undo the fruit of wisdom. The much good could refer to the present or potential good a nation accomplishes. The fact remains that it may all be lost if the ruler is a fool and engages in foolish or evil deeds. The good would not refer specifically to moral good but possessions, properties, prosperity, etc. This theme is taken up more fully in Ecclesiastes 10:1.

As an aside, it is interesting to observe how the preceding story has a counterpart in the Christian age. It is to be noted, however, that such a comparison is not to be interpreted as the original meaning of the author of Ecclesiastes. It does demonstrate, however, both the universal and spiritual application of the principles involved. The analogies are: (1) Wisdom would be the New Testament entrusted today to the church; (2) the small city would be the church (Luke 12:32; Hebrews 12:22-23); (3) the great king refers to Satan who sets himself against the chosen of God (John 12:31); (4) the poor wise man would represent Jesus Christ whose wisdom was, by some, forgotten (Isaiah 53:2-3; Mark 6:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:7-8; Colossians 2:3).

FACT QUESTIONS 9:13-18

483.

How can one fortify himself against snares and calamities?

484.

Why is the wisdom of verse thirteen different from redemptive wisdom?

485.

Give the best interpretation of the parable. Explain your answer.

486.

Why is it not important that an actual event be identified in the siege of the small city? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 9:14)

487.

The siegeworks are symbolic of what threat to the church today?

488.

Make a list of the things wisdom had to oppose. (Cf. Ecclesiastes 9:15-16)

489.

What became of the little man who saved the city?

490.

Explain the statement: Wisdom is better than strength.

491.

In what way does Herod illustrate a ruler among fools?

492.

What does much good refer to in verse eighteen?

493.

List the possible analogies the parable could have in the church age.